Vatting Tools

Chatting with Nivto the other night about blending experiments got me thinking about trying some more vattings of my own. What's your list of tools for your vatting/blending? Are there any good recipes out there (aside from SB Blend) or resources (E.G. see The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom) you go to for reference?

I've posted this before, but here's a link to another video by Compass Box's John Glaser that goes into how they came up with the recipe for Flaming Heart 4th Edition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMP-UrQ39BI

Re: Vatting Tools

Started the night with an OWA 7year from '08 then had some WTR101. For the 3rd drink I thought what the hell lets mix one. I didn't expect much from it but was very surprised. So good I had A second healthy pour of the mix. Was pretty close to a 50/59 mix the first time and 60 (OWA)/ 40 (wtr101). Highly recommend

Re: Vatting Tools

Originally Posted by Ejmharris

Started the night with an OWA 7year from '08 then had some WTR101. For the 3rd drink I thought what the hell lets mix one. I didn't expect much from it but was very surprised. So good I had A second healthy pour of the mix. Was pretty close to a 50/59 mix the first time and 60 (OWA)/ 40 (wtr101). Highly recommend

Re: Vatting Tools

I usually just use a jigger and a mason jar. I would also consider using a digital scale for measuring. I assume there are some variances in density in different bourbons, but for the amounts I am mixing I doubt the volume difference will be substantial. After letting everything mingle for awhile, I pour into an empty bottle. I use the mason jar because it doesn't pour well so it deters me from sampling too often and too early. Also if I am vatting cocktails sometimes I might add a charred barrel stave and the wide mouth is nice for that.

Re: Vatting Tools

I usually start with two mediocre to undrinkable whiskies. I will then dump them into a 5 gallon bucket (use a stainless pail here so the plastic does not leech) and mix thoroughly for 15 minutes with a handheld blender to ensure they are properly married. I then let the concoction rest a half hour in an industrial freezer; I find this helps to add a strong chill that will knockdown any of that annoying taste. I like to finish the vatting by mixing 1 part whiskey with 5 parts sweet red vermouth and a cup of bitters. Sometimes, I get extra fancy and will do the vatted whiskey coup de grace. That is, I take 2 or more vatted batches and re-vat them. Mostly though, I just buy decent bottles

Re: Vatting Tools

Originally Posted by LostBottle

I usually start with two mediocre to undrinkable whiskies. I will then dump them into a 5 gallon bucket (use a stainless pail here so the plastic does not leech) and mix thoroughly for 15 minutes with a handheld blender to ensure they are properly married. I then let the concoction rest a half hour in an industrial freezer; I find this helps to add a strong chill that will knockdown any of that annoying taste. I like to finish the vatting by mixing 1 part whiskey with 5 parts sweet red vermouth and a cup of bitters. Sometimes, I get extra fancy and will do the vatted whiskey coup de grace. That is, I take 2 or more vatted batches and re-vat them. Mostly though, I just buy decent bottles

All that talk about "industrial" this and "stainless" that had me visualizing you with a goatee & glasses doing your best Walter White impersonation =]b